Alarm clock

ABSTRACT

An alarm clock has an alarm device which can be set in an operative or an inoperative condition by tilting the clock from one stable rest position to another.

United States atent Oliveri Mar. 19, 1974 [541 ALARM CLOCK [56]References Cited [75] Inventor: Lucio Oliveri, Milan, Italy UNITEDSTATES PATENTS I C v H 3,604,200 9/1971 Sapper 1. 58/2l.l5 [73] Asslgneeazti g z g'x t izgf at 3,264.81? 8/1966 Beguin 58/21.l5 l 3.371.4783/1968 Robinson... 58/21.15 Swltzer an 3,382.665 5/1968 Bowden 58/2l.l5[22] Filed: Nov. 15, 1972 Primary ExaminerLawrence R. Franklin [21]Appl' 306953 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert E. Burns; Emmanuel J.Lobato [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 10. 1971 Switzerland18005/71 [57] ABSTRACT An alarm clock has an alarm device which can beset 52 U5. (:1. 58/21.15 in an operative or an imperative condition bytilting 1] Int. Cl. the clock from one Stable rest position to another[58] Field of Search 58/19, 21.15, 53

Y 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ALARM CLOCK The invention relates to alarmclocks.

It has already been proposed to provide an alarm clock with a pushbutton. which is depressed when the clock is placed on a support surfaceso as to place the alarm device in an operative condition, i.e., so thatan alarm signal will be given at a preset time. When the alarm rings,the user can stop the alarm signal simply by lifting up the clock,without having to locate and actuate the conventional alarm switch-offdevice. Whilst such a clock has undoubted advantages, it neverthless hasthe drawback that unless the user actuates the conventional alarmswitch-off device after having stopped the alarm signal by lifting theclock, when he places the clock back down the alarm signal is liable tobe given again. The user must therefore either actuate the conventionalalarm switch-off device, or must lay the clock down in a generallyinconvenient position, e.g. on its dial face.

An object of the invention is to provide an alarm clock in whichswitching of the alarm device between an operative and an inoperativecondition can be achieved simply by tilting the clock between twopositions in both of which positions the dial face of the clock isoriented so as to conveniently display the time.

An alarm clock according to the invention comprises a case having agenerally planar dial face including time indicating means. The case hasdiscrete first and second rest surfaces defined by first and secondplanes intersecting at an obtuse angle along a line parallel to thegeneral plane of the dial face, and the dial face includes a major axislying in a plane perpendicular to the general plane of the dial face andperpendicular to said first and second planes. The first and second restsurfaces respectively form means for supporting the clock on anunderlying generally horizontal support surface in stable first andsecond positions, in both of which first and second positions said planeof the major axis is disposed perpendicular to the underlying supportsurface. The clock also includes an alarm device and means for switchingthe alarm device between an operative and an inoperative condition whenthe clock is moved from one of said first and second positions to theother.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section through an alarm clock; and

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic side elevational views of the alarm clock intwo positions.

The alarm clock shown includes a case 1 having discrete first and secondplanar rest surfaces 2 and 3 respectively, surfaces 2 and 3 intersectingat an obtuse angle along a line parallel to the general plane of a dialface 9. Dial face 9 is covered with a glass 10 and has time indicatingmeans including conventional hands 11 cooperating with marks on the dialface 9. Hands 11 are driven by a schematically shown electric clockworkmechanism 12. The cross-section of FIG. 1 is taken through the major 12oclock 6 oclock axis of dial face 9, which axis lies in a planeperpendicular to the planes of rest surfaces 2 and 3.

The center of gravity (not shown) of the clock is disposed perpendicularto both rest surfaces 2 and 3 whereby the rest surfaces 2 and 3 formmeans for supa position in which the indicated time can be readconveniently.

The clock also includes a schematically shown electric alarm device 4which is in an operative condition, i.e., able to give a sonorous alarmsignal at a preset time, when a contact 6 is closed, and is in aninoperative condition when contact 6 is open.

Contact 6 is operated by a push button 5 passing through an aperture 5in surface 3, button 5 being urged by a compression spring 7 and by aresilient blade 8 of contact 6 from a retracted position (FIGS. 1 and 2in which the button 5 is flush with the surface 3, to a withdrawnposition (FIG. 3) in which it protrudes from surface 3.

When the clock is placed with its rest surface 2 on a horizontalunderlying support face 13, button 5 is free to move out to itswithdrawn position, as shown in FIG. 3. The contact 6 is thus closed andthe alarm device is in the operative condition, in which an alarm signalis given at a preset time.

When the user desires to place the alarm device 4 into inoperativecondition, either during production of an alarm signal or to avoidproduction of an alarm signal, the clock is simply tilted towards theposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. During tilting, button 5 appliesagainst surface 13 and the weight of the clock causes button 5 toretract against the action of spring 7 and blade 8. When the clock comesto rest an surface 3, blade 8 is raised and contact 6 is open so thatthe alarm device is in the operative condition.

The described alarm clock is extremely practical since the tiltingmovement required for placing the alarm device in the operative orinoperative condition can be achieved very easily. Moreover, a simpleobservation of the position of the clock is sufficient to indicatewhether or not the alarm device is set to operate.

As a variation, the button 5 could bereplaced by a gravity operatedcontactor disposed inside case 1, for example a miniature contactorhaving a drop of mercury which is displaced when the clock is tiltedbetween the described positions.

As another variation, the case 1 could be pivotally mounted on a supportplate about an axis along the line of intersection of surfaces 2 and 3.Magnetic or other means could then be provided for firmly holding theclock in one or both of the previewed positions, instead of relying upona particular location of the center of gravity of the clock. 7

What is claimed is:

1. In an alarm clock: means when enabled for generating an alarm signalat a preselected time; and means for enabling and disenabling the alarmsignal generating means and for simultaneously indicating the enabledand disenabled status thereof comprising a clock housing having twodiscrete planar surfaces at oblique angles with one another and eachsurface defining a stable rest position for the clock and said clockhousing positionable on one of said planar surfaces to thereby enablesaid alarm signal generating means and indicate the enabled status byone orientation of said clock housing and positionable on the other ofsaid planar said means for enabling and disenabling includes a switchhaving a pushbutton projecting from said other planar surface when saidclock housing is positioned on said one planar surface and movable to aposition wherein the pushbutton is flush with said other planar surfacewhen said clock housing is positioned on said other planar surface.

5. In a alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said means forenabling and disenabling includes a gravity actuated switch.

1. In an alarm clock: means when enabled for generating an alarm signal at a preselected time; and means for enabling and disenabling the alarm signal generating means and for simultaneously indicating the enabled and disenabled status thereof comprising a clock housing having two discrete planar surfaces at oblique angles with one another and each surface defining a stable rest position for the clock and said clock housing positionable on one of said planar surfaces to thereby enable said alarm signal generating means and indicate the enabled status by one orientation of said clock housing and positionable on the other of said planar surfaces to thereby disenable said alarm signal generating means and indicate the disenabled status by another orientation of said clock housing.
 2. In an alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said two planar surfaces are adjoining and said clock housing is pivotable on the line joining the two planar surfaces.
 3. In an alarm clock according to claim 1, further comprising a clock face and wherein one of said planar surfaces is perpendicular to the plane of said clock face.
 4. In an alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said means for enabling and dIsenabling includes a switch having a pushbutton projecting from said other planar surface when said clock housing is positioned on said one planar surface and movable to a position wherein the pushbutton is flush with said other planar surface when said clock housing is positioned on said other planar surface.
 5. In a alarm clock according to claim 1, wherein said means for enabling and disenabling includes a gravity actuated switch. 